Bird caller



Dec. 5, 1939. Q. H. HARBVIN 2,182,692

BIRD CALLER Filed March 23, 1959 56 11 [j H a fp'gfi, 50 55 10 1; 2,7

3 m arbin Patented Dec. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES BIRD CALLER Oliver H'. Harbin, Mobile, Ala.

Application March 23,

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved bird caller particularly adapted for use in calling hawks.

It is a primary aim of this invention to provide a musical device capable of producing two notes when blown which accurately simulate the call of a hawk to thereby attract hawks and also crows which will invariably follow hawks.

It is a further aim ofthis' invention to provide a bird caller including an elastic vibratory sound producing member and means for adjusting the tension of said member to vary the pitch or tone produced.

Still a further aim of the invention is to provide a body portion formed of sections which are yieldably connected and which are provided with means adjacent an end thereof for spacing the sections at said end for varying the volume of the sound.

Still another aim of the invention is to provide a device of the aforementioned character capable of being economically constructed, easy to operate, durable, and provided with means whereby the vibratory sound producing member may be tuned to the sounding bars which form the body portion and automatically retained in tune.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein: V

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the instrument,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same,

Figure 3 is an end View in elevation looking toward the mouth piece or inlet end thereof,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2, and

Figures 5 and 6 are transverse vertical sectional views taken along the lines 55 and 6-6, respectively, of Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the different views, l0 designates generally the instrument in its entirety which includes the body portion, designated generally H which is formed of the sounding bars or plates l2 and I3. Bars I2 and iii are substantially the same width and length and are mounted one above the other and connected adjacent their ends by the elastic bands or strips H4. The adjacent faces of the bars l2 and 3 are concave to provide the longitudinal passage I5 which extends the length of the body II and which as best seen in Figures 3, 5 and 6 1939,- Serial No. 263,818

diminishes in size adjacent the longitudinal edges of the body H; Bars l2 and I3 may be formed of any'suitable material such as metal. The end I6 of the body I constitutes the inlet end and mouth piece of the instrument and the end I! the outlet end thereof. Plate |2 adjacent the outlet end l1 is provided with a threaded bore l8 in which is mounted a set screw I9, the shank end of. which is adapted to abut against the inner side of the plate l3 for forcing these ends apart to vary the size of the passage l5 at the outlet end I1. Plate l3 at the inlet end It has its concave face bevelled at 20,. as seen in Figure 4, to increase the thickness or depth of the passage I5 at the inlet end and so that said end of the passage will converge inwardly for a limited distance, for a purpose which willfhereinafter be described.

Mounted on the top and longitudinally of the upper bar I2 is all-shaped guide member 2| which is secured to the bar 2| by the screw fastenings 22. The upwardly projecting ends of the member 2| are provided with aligned openings 23 in which is journaled a-shaft 25 provided adjacent its'ends with the openings 25and 26. A vibratory sounding strip 21, formed of an elastic material such as rubber, extends transversely through the passage 5 adjacent the end l6 and has one end extending through the opening 25. The ends of the strip 21 are tied together as at 28 to form a continuous band. A cotter pin or other fastening 29 is mounted in the opening 26 and engages the outer side of one end of the 'member 2|, which is disposed adjacent the end ll of the body H to prevent the shaft 24 from moving longitudinally of the bearing member 2| in one direction, A ratchet wheel 30 is mounted on the shaft'24 and is secured thereto by the set screw 3| with one end thereof disposed against the opposite side of the aforementioned end of the member 2| to cooperate with the fastening 29 to prevent the shaft 24 from moving longitudinally of the bearing member 2|. As best seen in Figure 6, the ratchet wheel 36 is provided with the teeth 32 the back edges 33 of which are rounded and the front edges 34 of which are formed substantially straight and radially of the shaft 24. 'A pawl 35, in the form of a leaf spring is secured at one end by the fastening 36 to the bar I2 and projects upwardly therefrom, and has its opposite end bent inwardly at 31 to engage between the teeth 32. As seen in Figure 6, end 3'! is bent so that it will ride over the back edges 33 of the teeth 32 when the shaft 24 is revolved in a counterclockwise direction and will abut against the front edges 34 of the teeth to prevent the shaft 24 from being turned in a clockwise direction.

From the foregoing it will be seen that by blowing into the passage I at the end Hi the portion of the member 21 which extends therethrough will be vibrated to combine with the bars I2 and I3 to produce a musical tone the pitch of which can be varied by varying the tension on the member 21 which is accomplished by turning the shaft 24 in a counterclockwise direction, as heretofore described, to wind a portion of the member 21 thereon. Ratchet 3D and pawl 35 retain the shaft 24 from revolving clockwise after the member 21 has been ad justed to the proper tension to produce the desired tone or pitch. The bevel 20, as seen in Figure 4, causes the passage l5 atinlet end I6 to converge inwardly to apoint adjacent to Where the strip 21 extends therethrough. Set screw i9 is adjustable to adjust the bars l2 and I3 relatively to each other to vary the volume of the tone produced, and the bands M in addition to permitting this adjustment of the bars also function to deaden their resonance. After the vibratory member 21 has been tensioned to produce the right tone or pitch and the set screw l9 adjusted to give the proper volume, the end It) is placed in the mouth after which the hands are cupped around the instrument and by blowing through the passage l5 musical tones are produced which when the instrument is properly tuned will very realistically simulate the call of the hawk.

Various modifications and changes in the precise construction and arrangement of the parts forming the invention are contemplated andmay obviously be resorted to, and the right is therefore expressly reserved to make such modifications and changes. as do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the class described comprising a body portion formed of sections provided with concave adjacent faces, elastic means connecting said sections, a shaft, means carried by said body portion for journaling said shaft and for positioning it above and longitudinally thereof, pawl and ratchet means associated with said shaft for controlling its turning movement, and an elastic member extending transversely between said sections, adjacent one end thereof, and connected to said shaft whereby a portion of said member will be wound thereon when the shaft is turned to tension the member.

2. A bird caller comprising a body portion formed of two bars provided with concave adjacent faces, elastic bands yieldably connecting said bars adjacent their ends, means for adshaft, and a spring pawl mounted on one of said bars to engage the teeth of said ratchet wheel to limit the rotation of said shaft.

4. A hawk caller comprising a body portion formed of plates, yieldable members connecting said plates, the adjacent faces of said plates being concave to form a passage extending the length of said body, a U-shaped bearing member carried by said body, a shaft journaled there in and disposed above and longitudinally thereof, said shaft being provided with an opening adjacent one of its ends, an elastic vibratory sound producing member extending transversely through said passage adjacent one of its ends and through the opening in said shaft, the ends of said member being connected, said shaft being rotatable to adjustably tension said vibratory member, pawl and ratchet means associated with said shaft for retaining it in adjusted position, and a spacing member associated with said plates adjacent the opposite end of said passage for varying the size of said passage adjacent said last mentioned end.

5. A hawk caller comprising a pair of plates disposed in abutting relationship, the adjacent faces of .said plates being concave to provide a passage extending the length of said plates, a set screw mounted in one end of one of said plates to engage the corresponding portion of the other plate for adjustably spacing said ends, elastic means connecting said plates adjacent their ends, an elastic vibratory sounding member ex tending transversely through said passage adjacent the opposite ends of said plates, and means connected to said vibratory member for adjusting the tension thereof and for retaining it in adjusted position.

6. A bird caller comprising a body member formed of sections, means for yieldably connecting said sections, said sections having concave adjacent faces forming a passage therethrough, a resilient vibratory member extending transversely through said passage, and means carried by said body member for adjustably tensioning the vibratory member.

OLIVER H. HARBIN. 

